Therapeutic apparatus



Nov. 17, 1953 M. O. LEWIS THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1, 1951'illlllnlrrll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'IIII'I'IIIIIIIII'III"IN V EN TOR. MACK O. L EW/S HIS ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Mack 0. Lewis,Detroit, Mich.

Application December 1, 1951, Serial No. 259,470

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a therapeutic apparatus and more particularlyto a vibrating device embodied in a cot or the like for supporting thebody of a person in a lying position;

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure which willtransmit localized vibrations over an extended area, such as the entiresurface of a bed or cot, whereby the vibrations are equally and evenlydistributed to all parts of the body when the user is in a recliningposition on the upper surface of the cot.

It is another object of the invention to provide a vibrating bridgestructure, associated with the vibrating cot, for resting upon the usersbody so that the vibration impulses are transmitted to opposite sides ofthe body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a solid sheet member,such as a plywood board, with a metallic screen attached to one surfacethereof, and to attach directly to the metallic screen an electricallydriven motor having an eccentrically mounted weight on the rotatableshaft of the motor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appearfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawin s, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cot showing the vibrator bridgeassociated therewith embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cot, taken on line2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the vibrator motor applied to the supportingstructure; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the cot and its associatedvibrator bridge, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, shown on a larger scale.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a cot Ill having a rectangularframe structure [2, to which is applied a single piece cover M, such asplywood material. The frame l2 and cover [4 form an inverted boxlikestructure. The upper surface of the cover I4 may be padded, as shown atIt, and the top and frame are covered by a suitable upholstery materialIt, such as fabric, leather or the like.

Legs 20 are hinged to the frame l2 for supporting the latter and may befolded into the box frame for convenience.

The under surface of the cover I4 is provided with a metallic screen 22,secured thereto by tacks or staples. This screen covers the entire undersurface of the cover and is rigidly secured thereto at close intervalsso that there can be little or no vibration between the screen andcover.

2 This screen may be woven metallic strands or it may be the staggeredcut and stretched metal sheet commonly used as a substitute for buildinglath.

The metallic wire screen 22 imparts vibrations longitudinally throughthe entire length of the individual strands of the screen to all partsof the cover 14. The screen is tacked to the cover at close intervals sothat at each tacking point there is a rigidity between the screen andthat portion of the cover. The metallic screen imparts the vibrationsfrom one tacking point to the other. Without the use of the screen thevibrations produced by the motor would be absorbed in the cover in theregion of the motor before they were transmitted to the full area of thecover. The metallic screen conducts the vibrations to all parts of thecover.

An electric motor 24, having a base 26 is rigidly secured to the underside of the cover M by screws or bolts 28 passing through the screen 22and secured to the cover M. The motor 24 is in tight contact with thescreen 22. The armature shaft 30 of the motor 24 is provided with aweight 32 extending radially from the axis of the shaft 30. When theshaft 30 is rotated the eccentric weight produces vibrations which aretransmitted through the motor base to the screen 22 and through thescreen to localized points on the cover l4. If desired the weight may beadjusted radially of the shaft. It is important touse a single piece ofmaterial for the cover, to firmly secure the motor and screen to thecover so that the vibrations are evenly distributed over the entire areaof the cover.

An electrical conductor 34 is provided from the motor 24 to a panel 35at one side of the frame l2. This panel is provided with a switch 38,circuit indicator light 40, and a plug socket 42. An input electric cord44 extends through the end of the frame, along the side of the frame, tothe switch panel 36 where it is connected to the plug socket 42. Thelight 40 is in series with the switch 38 which controls the current tothe motor 24. By this arrangement the light indicates when the motorcurrent is on.

The bridge structure comprises a frame 46, substantially in the shape ofa rectangular box, having a concave portion 48 in its lower surface forfitting over the body of the user. The lower arched surface, on itsupper surface has a screen 59 firmly secured thereto. An electric motor52 is positioned directly on the screen 50 and is secured to the frame46 by bolts or screws 54. An input electrical conduit is removablyreceived in a socket 58 which leads to a combined indicator light andswitch box 60. An electrical lead 62 runs from the switch to the motor52. The electrical current may be supplied to the switch 60 and motor 52from any input socket or may be supplied from the socket 42 when theconnection 44 is attached to an input socket. Either one of thevibrating bridge or vibrating cot may be used individually orsimultaneously by control of the switches 86 and 60.1 The motor 52 isprovided with an eccentric weight 64 which imparts vibrations to thescreen 50 and arched base 48.

It has been found that a desirable material for use as a covering forboth the bridge and the cot is foam rubber or rubberized hair. Both.these materials are excellent for transmitting the motor vibrations tothe body of the user.

The vibrations transmitted to the body stimulate circulation to overcomecongestion which may have. resulted from over. exertion or from acramped position. It is intended that the vibrationsbe transmitted toall parts of the body when the user is lying on the cot, and by use ofthe bridge device, operable in conjunction with the out, the vibrationsmay be transmitted in. opposite directions to, both sides of. the body Ihave illustrated. and describedv he in a. preierred form of the.inventionbut. it is to beundetstood that various chan es, including thesize, shape, and arrangement of parts may be, made without departingfrom. the spirit of. my invention and it is not my intention to limitits scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Therapeutic apparatus comprising, a base, a single piece of solidsheet material fixed to said base, a metallic screen rigidly fixed atspaced intervals to said sheet member extending over substantially theentire area of one face of said sheet member, an electric motor having arotatable shaft, said motor beinl secured to said sheet member in directcontact with said screen, and an eccentrically mounted weight on theshaft of said motor.

2. A vibration producing apparatus having a base plate provided with aconcave central portion, a screen rigidly fixed at spaced intervals tothe. surface. of, the entire area 01' said base plate, an electricalmotor having a rotatable shaft, said motor being in direct contact withsaid screen, and an eccentrically mounted weight on said shaft.

MACK O. LEWIS.

References Cited in the me 0! this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,017,840 Amet Feb. 20, 1912 2,374,492 Mininberg -r Apr. 24,1945 2,500,508 Backin Mar. 14, 1950 2,571,757 Pruitt Oct. 16, i

